03 26 05 313 W, 3 I - + 136 - 132
AMATEUR LAND MARKS
Order is as follows:
1) Middle bird thrown flat (right to left) to clump of three trees. Gunner then retires to holding blind between his gun station and the right hand gun station.
2) Flyer thrown from right to left. Some land as far as the left edge of the photograph
3) Right hand bird thrown angle back from left to right towards double trees on right edge of photograph
When dog picks up right hand bird, gunner retires.
The falls for the momma and poppa stations were very close. If you look closely at this photograph, you can see the gun stands for both stations.
Wind was blowing in your face, or alternatively, from right to left when I was at test.
Dogs had difficulty on the flyer and the middle bird. Flyer falls varied widely and visibility could be difficult. Cover was tall and there was a lot of dog and bird scent out there. But by and large, dogs got the flyer.
The middle bird was another question. Dogs would go five to ten yards of that bird on either side - never check down then steam their way into the flyer again.
Handlers tried to dig it out before the flyer.
Handlers tried to dig it out after the flyer.
Both methods were equally unsuccessful.
The best method was to wait until sufficient scent built up to keep the dogs in the area of the fall (which of course unduly penalizes the dogs who run early)
74 starters
28 called back to land blind - including 6 handles
I lost Ace and Zowie. Mootsie was spectacular. Let's hope she does better on the Amateur land blind than the Open land blind.
Ted… this is way too cool – you’ll have us all spoiled…Good luck with Mootsie.
pam ingham - 27 03 05 - 05:54
With all that beautiful land, why oh why do judges insist in putting all the birds in a pile?
Lisa
Lisa Van Loo (Email) - 29 03 05 - 09:23